Improvement in shelf attachments for pianos and organs



. J. H. GIBSON. Shelf Attachment for Pianos and Organs.

Patented July 9,1878.

' I a 5A.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH n. einsou, or

BOSTOX, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HEXRY F.

MILLER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHELF ATTACHMENTS FOR PiANOS AND ORGANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 205,856, dated July 9, 1878; application tiled June 3, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPI-I H. GIBSON, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Supporting-Shelves for Music, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to an improved shelf attachment for supporting music sheets or books upon organs, pianos, or in other places; and the invention consists in a support provided with a swinging, pivoted, rest-board, connected positively with the base-frame by means of a link or links, so that the act of turning the rest-board down into operative position throws the support away from the base-frame. The greater the weight of books upon the rest, the greater the certainty of the rest remaining in correct position.

In some book-supports now made the shelf or rest-board, when not in use, closes downward instead of upward, as in this my invention, and the weight of the book or books on the rest tends to close or throw it from operative position. Figure 1 represents, in front view, a booksupport embodying my invention. Fig. 2, an end elevation, the support being thrown out; Fig. 3, a vertical section, with the support thrown inward; and Fig. 4 is a modification, showing the support thrown out, but one link being used.

This attachment, to be applied to organs, 860., being built or already finished, is composed of a base-frame, a, of suitable length and width, having its end and side pieces suitably molded or finished by beading or otherwise.

The support 11 for the back of the book is pivoted to the base a at c, or connected by a hinge, as at d, and the central portion of b will be ornamented by a fret-work panel, or in any way common to music-desks.

The rest-board c for the lower end of the book has attached at its end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, cars j, which receive within. them pins 3, projecting from plates g, attached to the lower end of b, so that the rest turns on the pins 3 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that in Fi 2.

One portion, 4, of ear fis connected with a link, h, pivoted at its other end upon a stud or pivot, 2', connected with or forming part of the base, so that as the rest 0 is turned from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2 the said link will act as a brace or lever to throw the support and shelf outward, as shown in Fig. 2, and hold it there rigidly under the action of the weight of the books or music thereon.

It will be observed that the act of lowering the rest into operative position to receive upon it a book positively throws the support forward and retains it in its forward position, and the act of closing or folding up the shelf throws the support back against the base a.

This automatic movement, as described, I believe to be new with me.

It will be obvious to a skilled mechanic that many forms of link or pivoted connections may be used, instead of those shown, to operate in the same manner; and therefore I do not intend to limit my invention to the specific devices shown and before described, for they may be variously modified without departing from my invention.

I have shown one modification in Fig. 4, where is employed but one link, it being connected centrally with an ear, 5, on the pivoted rest, and at its other end with a stud on an upright, l.

The rest will preferably be made to fold into a recess at the base of the support, as shown in the drawings.

The rest is so pivoted to the support I) at its lower end that when the rest is brought into operative position, as in Figs. 2 and 4, the upper side of the rear portion of the rest, extended across the base, comes in contact with the lower portion of the support, and serves as a stop, which firmly braces the rest and prevents further downward movement thereof under the weight of a book or sheets of music.

I claim- 1. In a shelf attachment, the support, pivoted rest, base, and connectin g devices, jointed to the rest and support on one side and the base on the other, to move the support positively outward as the rest is turned down sub- In testimony whereof I have signed my 11211110 stantially as described. to this specification in the presence of two sub- 2. In a shelf attachment for music, the comscribing witnesses.

bination, with the pivoted support, of a pivoted rest, adapted when turned down to take JOSEPH H. GIBSON a bearing against the under side of the support to maintain the rest in operative posi- Witnesses:

tion, substantially as and for the purpose set G. W. GREGORY,

forth. 1 N. E. WHITNEY. 

